Sources close to Marty Schottenheimer and the San Diego Chargers said the coach was fired by the team Monday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported.

Schottenheimer and Chargers general manager A.J. Smith have been having disagreements over staffing after losing a number of assistants. Dean Spanos, the team president, told Schottenheimer on Monday that it wasn't going to work between him and Smith.

Three days after the Chargers melted down in a stunning 24-21 playoff loss to New England, Spanos decided that bringing Schottenheimer back for the final year of his contract gave San Diego its best chance to win.

Schottenheimer, though, declined the team's offer of a one-year extension for 2008 worth $4.5 million, with a $1 million buyout.

"Right now, I wasn't comfortable accepting it," Schottenheimer told the Associated Press shortly after the season. He would have earned more than $3 million in 2007.

With a regular-season record of 200-126-1 with Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington and San Diego, Schottenheimer is the most successful coach never to have reached the Super Bowl.

Parcells quit because he was tired of coaching. Didn't want to go through the rigors of another off season, draft, training camp, etc. I doubt he'd just jump to the Chargers like that. Too bad, he'd probably be perfect for the job. Strong running game, strong 3-4 defense, fits the Parcells mold perfectly.

Why would San Diego want to screw with the chemistry of a team that looks like it will remain at an elite level again nest season. Not quite as bad as Jerry Krause pushing PJ out, but it's a head scratcher for sure.

didn't san diego lose the defensive cordinator to dallas? they may be thinking if we got to rebuild the coaching ranks may as well start at the top... i don't agree with the move though, you don't just fire one of the top coaches in the league, there just isn't the talent to draw from...

didn't san diego lose the defensive cordinator to dallas? they may be thinking if we got to rebuild the coaching ranks may as well start at the top... i don't agree with the move though, you don't just fire one of the top coaches in the league, there just isn't the talent to draw from...

Yea they lost there Offensive Coordinator and Defensive Coordinator. And some other staff members. And now the head coach so its not looking good for the staff.

Parcells quit because he was tired of coaching. Didn't want to go through the rigors of another off season, draft, training camp, etc. I doubt he'd just jump to the Chargers like that. Too bad, he'd probably be perfect for the job. Strong running game, strong 3-4 defense, fits the Parcells mold perfectly.

There's some reason to believe it had much to do with TO, though...Parcells' long-time friend Bob Knight thinks it was largely about Owens. Either way, SD should push hard for Parcells, because with him they could win the Superbowl, and even if he was/is tired of coaching, getting the most talented team in the NFL would have to be a strong temptation.